Council of State throws out pedestrian zone complaint

The Council of State has rejected a request from a group of businesses located in Brussels’ pedestrian zone to suspend the works being carried out to improve the zone. “A suspension would only make the situation for the businesses worse,” responded the council.

Many businesses have been against the pedestrian zone – in place since the summer of 2015 – since the beginning. Business owners voiced concern about customers not being able to access their shops conveniently and tried to get the entire zone abolished.

Businesses did succeed in getting parts of the original pedestrian zone opened back up to traffic. But the Council of State will not put a stop to the current works being carried out, which started in September.

The council said any dip in business is not due to the works but to the change in mobility caused by the zone. “A suspension of the permit will only make the situation for the merchants worse,” said the council in a statement, “because that will only increase the length of time until the works are completed.”

Works include a unified ground surface in blue stone, green spaces, fountains and more cycle lanes.